Monday, October 4, 2010

Armed Nepalese police in riot gear seized ballot boxes that were being used by Tibetans to vote for a new Prime Minister and Parliament in exile in a dramatic new development in Kathmandu today.

Permission had effectively been given by the Nepalese authorities for the election in exile, involving nearly 9,000 Tibetans, but police stormed three centers where the Tibetan exile community were placing their vote and took the ballot boxes. According to Tibetan sources in touch with prominent Nepalese rights advocates, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu had instructed the Nepalese Home Ministry to stop the election.

This is the latest incident of assertive actions by the Chinese authorities in Nepal's sovereign territory, which has led to a tougher approach by the Nepalese authorities to the Tibetan community. More entrenched and vigorous strategies by the Beijing government to influence the Nepalese government, border forces, judicial system and civil society at a time of political transition in Nepal mean that Tibetans in Nepal are increasingly vulnerable, demoralized and at risk.

A Tibetan eyewitness to the seizure of the ballot boxes today said: "This was a terrible day for Tibetans in Nepal. People felt desperate. Many of the Tibetan elders in the community were crying, they were not able to do anything as there were so many police and they were so aggressive." (Footage of the incident by Radio Free Asia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_N_iSu3DY).

There is serious concern at the implications for Tibetans in Nepal, as personal and identifying details were included on the ballot forms. The Chinese and Nepalese governments have recently made a new agreement to share information relating to "anti-China" activities in Nepal. The Nepalese press reported that "Nepal and China have set up a high-level mechanism to share intelligence and information on security matters to contain anti-China activities in Nepal." (eKantipur.com, August 7).

There is also concern about the impact on the election itself as the Tibetan population in Nepal represent a substantial section of the exile Tibetan electorate.Mary Beth Markey, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, said: "This is an unwarranted intrusion by the Nepalese police against Tibetans' exercise of their democratic right to a free and fair election. In respect of the democratic process, the ballot boxes must be returned to the Tibetan community in Nepal as a matter of urgency."

The exile Tibetan community in countries across the world voted today in the first stage of a process established by the Tibetan government in exile to elect a new Kalon Tripa, or Tibetan Prime Minister, and also for members who will form the 15th Tibetan Parliament in exile. The present Kalon Tripa, based in Dharamsala, India, is Professor Samdhong Rinpoche.5316 Tibetans were registered to vote in the Boudhanath stupa area of Kathmandu, 980 in Jawalakhel, and 2336 in Swayambhunath at the nunnery. The same Tibetan source said: "In Jawalakel they had finished voting and the boxes had already been removed by 3:30. In Boudha they took 15 ballot boxes and in Swayambhu they seized five boxes."

Parliamentarians from 14 different countries commemorated the 50th anniversary of Tibetan democracy in exile on September 2 in Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan settlement in India. At the meeting, the exile Tibetan government and people honored the Dalai Lama for leading the Tibetan freedom struggle and for establishing democracy in the exile community.The elections today for both the Kalon Tripa and members who will form the 15th Tibetan Parliament in exile were the first step towards the 2011 general elections, which will decide the third directly elected Tibetan Prime Minister and the successor to the incumbent Kalon Tripa, marking the first democratic transfer of executive power. The final round of elections will be held next year on March 20.

Police in Nepal yesterday confiscated boxes holding thousands of ballots cast by Tibetans participating in the preliminary round of international elections to nominate candidates to the office of Prime Minister and Parliament of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Nepali authorities were informed about the election in advance and raised no objections. The electoral process was running smoothly until armed police stormed polling stations in the Kathmandu Valley around 4pm local time and confiscated the ballot boxes. (Radio Free Asia footage of armed Nepali police seizing ballot boxes can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4fI58wpV6o).

We condemn this heinous act of repression by the Nepali authorities which tramples on the Tibetan people’s democratic right to freely elect their political leadership. Tibetans in Nepal have for decades participated, unimpeded, in the exile Tibetan democratic process and should be allowed to continue doing so. Under the leadership of the Dalai Lama, Tibetans have established a democratic system in exile that represents their commitment to upholding the democratic rights and freedoms denied to Tibetans living in Chinese-occupied Tibet.

It is widely known that the Chinese government is exerting increasing pressure on the government of Nepal to crack down on the political activities of Tibetans and to forcibly repatriate those who escape across the border. Today’s move signals an escalation in Nepal's tactics and these abuses must stop immediately. The mistreatment of Tibetans by the government of Nepal is an ugly stain on the record of a country that has for decades provided a safe haven for Tibetan refugees.

We call on the government of Nepal to immediately return the ballot boxes to Tibetan election officials and end its harassment and mistreatment of Tibetans, especially those escaping persecution in Chinese-occupied Tibet.

“Non-violence is a term I had to coin in order to bring out the root meaning of…‘Ahimsa’. It is the soul force or the power of Godhead with us…therefore; it can never mean passivity…Non-violence demands infinite courage, such a courage that surpasses the bravery of the soldier.”